[takeahike]

I talked with a friend about her new dog and how he loves to sniff on walks. She mentioned the importance of dogs sniffing, and I never really thought about that before. She said that sniffing is like social media for dogs. They can find out who has been where and what they’ve been up to. Her dog wants to sniff constantly when they go for walks. One trainer she spoke to said it was important to let dogs sniff, which she doesn’t disagree with at all. But my friend is trying to find a balance because her dog only wants to sniff and not walk at all. Is sniffing a form of exercise for dogs? Is it ok for walks to turn into sniffing adventures only? It’s not like he’s walking consistently while sniffing. He gets fixated on a place and will just meander in that area, so it’s not really the same as a walk.

[childlessdoglady]

Such a great question, I am wondering the same thing too!

[Sadie Cornelius]

Agree, great question and I’ve heard differing opinions about letting dogs sniff on walks. Yes, sniffing and the mental stimulation it brings is key for a dog’s overall well-being. But understandable that it can be frustrating if your dog wants to sniff everything instead of walk. While it may not get their heart rate up like running or a brisk walk, sniffing does engage their brain and senses, which can wear them out physically in addition to mentally.

One idea is to set designated “sniff zones” during the walk where your friend’s dog can take the time to explore scents for a few minutes, and then gently encourage more movement during other parts of the walk. This way, the dog gets both mental stimulation from sniffing and physical exercise from walking. They also might mixing it up with new routes on walks that can help bring some variety versus getting stuck in the same spots. In the end, it’s all about balance and understanding that every dog and situation is different.

[Author]

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